The Donald Trump administration is preparing to revoke the US visas of foreign nationals who entered the country on business or tourist visas before applying for asylum, in a move that could affect up to 200,000 people.
The visas targeted are B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas, which are generally issued to foreign nationals travelling to the United States temporarily for business or tourism.
The proposed revocations would apply to B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 where the holders have subsequently applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the US.
The State Department is expected to begin the revocations in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. Officials have described the process as ongoing, meaning the final number of affected visas could change.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.”
The department has not confirmed that exactly 200,000 people will lose their visas. Pigott said “as the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”
The planned action does not necessarily mean that every affected person will be immediately deported. According to officials cited by the Associated Press, people with pending asylum cases could be recategorised while losing their B1 or B2 visitor status.
The administration’s position is that some foreign nationals used temporary visitor visas to enter the US before filing asylum claims that allowed them to remain in the country permanently.
B1 visas are generally used for temporary business-related travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and other temporary visits. A person holding either visa is admitted only for a temporary stay and must comply with the conditions attached to that status.
The proposed revocations could therefore affect people who originally entered the US legally as visitors but later sought protection through the asylum system.
If implemented on the scale being reported, the action would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in US history, according to reports citing US officials and State Department documents.
The move is the latest in a series of immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration since the president returned to office.
The administration has increased scrutiny of visa applicants, including reviews of applicants’ social media activity, introduced visa-bond requirements for nationals of certain countries and pursued restrictions affecting various categories of foreign nationals.
The State Department currently lists Nigeria among countries subject to US visa bonds, with the requirement taking effect on January 21, 2026.
The visa revocation plan also comes as the State Department has temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide while consular officers undergo new training designed to strengthen the screening of applicants.
Reuters reported that the pause was part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls and improve visa screening.
The proposed B1 and B2 revocations are likely to face legal challenges, particularly because applying for asylum in the United States is a separate legal process from obtaining a temporary visitor visa.
For people who entered the US on B1 or B2 visas and later applied for asylum, the key issue will be whether the government can revoke their visitor visas while their asylum claims remain pending and what consequences the revocation will have for their immigration cases.
For now, the State Department has not provided a final figure for how many visas will be revoked or announced a complete timetable for the process. The revocations are expected to be carried out on a rolling basis.
Vanguard News
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